Ex-coach Buchanan says Symonds has been let down by Cricket Australia

Sydney, Feb.2 (ANI): Former Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan has accused Cricket Australia of letting all rounder Andrew Symonds down. Buchanan wants to know why Australia’’s most controversial cricketer of recent times was allowed to go on a radio show in the first place. “For Andrew Symonds, one thing that has changed since I was with the Australian team is that he’’s become a megastar. There are complications that come with that, and they”re making life difficult for him. He’’s not helping things, either, but I”m disappointed his key advisors - his management or Cricket Australia or whoever it might be - are putting him in positions where they”re almost testing him, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Buchanan, as saying. “Two or three years ago, Roy could have made the same comments on that radio show and everyone would have laughed them off. Now, he’’s a megastar, everything he says and does is under the microscope. You would think it wasn”t necessarily in his best interests to go on a show where the nature of it is to say something controversial,” he added. Symonds will learn on Wednesday if he has been chosen in Australia’’s 14-man Test squad to tour South Africa. His chances were dented yesterday when Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald took six wickets in a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia - while Symonds followed his first innings of five with a second innings of three before coming on late in the day to bowl against Western Australia. Buchanan does not put much stock in those figures. “I am tired of hearing the word ”form”,” he said. “Step one for Roy is to show that he’’s physically fit. He needs to be capable of batting, bowling and fielding without restrictions. He is the best judge of his physical condition, so he”d know that better than anyone. When he’’s feeling strong, he plays well. Whether or not he makes a score in a Sheffield Shield match isn”t the point. Of more importance is whether he’’s sorted himself out mentally, physically and tactically. If he has, he should be picked. If not, he shouldn”t be, because he would only do the team and himself harm,” he added. Asked if Symonds should be chosen, Buchanan replied: “When you look at Australia’’s performances, there’’s no doubt they need a physically, mentally and tactically fit Andrew Symonds. He can obviously dominate international cricket when he’’s in sync. Do you take the gamble? The question isn”t about him stepping on to a field to play Sheffield Shield. It’’s about his mental, technical and physical state.” (ANI)